"I enjoy each age and am always impressed with their enthusiasm and eagerness to delve into my stories," says children's author and Staten Islander Susan Wigden, posing with pre-kindergarten students at Blessed Sacrament School, West Brighton.
Photo Courtesy of Bruce Wigden

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - WEST BRIGHTON - The 3- and 4-year-old children in teacher Susan Tringali's pre-kindergarten class at Blessed Sacrament School were eager to share their feelings about what they believed a caring deed is, and how they apply it to their lives.

As they listened to Staten Island children's author Susan Wigden, reading her newest rhyming picture book, "A Caring Deed for Becky" during a visit last week, they related to the main character, a good-hearted bear who spends her life knitting hats for her hard-to-fit animal friends.

Mrs. Tringali pointed out to her class that each person is different and each person is special in some way.

The story, she explained, has a message that each person should be thankful for the caring people who have helped them in their life, and should repay their kindness by doing a caring deed for someone else. She asked her young charges to give an example of a caring deed.

Hands flew up.

James Yates said a caring deed is "making hats" while Victoria Couts said it's "helping each other." Emily Lavelle said a caring deed would be "sharing."

As part of their language arts curriculum the children also discussed words that rhyme. They gave examples of rhyming words. Gianluca Devito gave the example, "gum and dumb," while Nathaniel Taylor offered "mouse and house."

Mrs.Wigden, who lives in Eltingville, has been a part of Blessed Sacrament School for the past seven years. Principal Linda Magnusson has continued to invite her back. "I believe it's a wonderful opportunity for the children to connect with a real Staten Island author," she said.

Upper-grade students at Blessed Sacrament also get in on her visits. Mrs. Wigden's books, "Chapter Two: The Magic in Baseball" and "Cloudy Skies Over Miami" – both of which originate in Staten Island – are required reading for the spring book club. Mrs. Wigden often returns to the school in the spring to work with reading teacher Kristen McNicholas on a project geared to students 10- to 12-years-old.

"Through the hard work of Mrs. McNicholas, the children have accomplished creating some amazing projects," she said.

Mrs. Wigden said she writes most of her books "with the hope of connecting the generations through mutual respect and friendship."

"The children often remember me from when I visited them in Pre-K, and it is so wonderful to see their growth and maturity through the years. I enjoy each age and am always impressed with their enthusiasm and eagerness to delve into my stories. I am extremely happy to be part of this wonderful school and always look forward to the time I spend with these children."

Mrs. Wigden's books are available through Barnes and Noble and on amazon.com. Teachers interested in scheduling an author's visit with Mrs. Wigden can contact her at swigden@yahoo.com, or visit the website www.swigden.com.